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Banana scientist 'silenced'
14 Apr 2004
The Australian Banana Growers' Council yesterday accused Biosecurity Australia of intimidating an international expert hired by the council in its fight against Filipino banana imports. The council's imports spokesman, Len Collins, told a Senate inquiry that a senior BA official had interfered in the consultancy of British scientist David Jones, who was forced to quit. Mr Collins said the BA official had approached Dr Jones' UK boss at an international conference and, as a result, Dr Jones ended his assistance. E-mails from Dr Jones to the council were provided in which the scientist expressed anger about the alleged interference.
Dr Jones was hired by the Australian Banana Growers' Council in 2000 when Biosecurity Australia started its Import Risk Assessment process for bananas. Mr Collins was speaking at a hearing of a Senate committee inquiry into BA's draft IRA.
The Australian, 14/4/04, page 6.
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